Gillingham's biggest league crowd of the season watched their team dominate Bury for 90 minutes but they could not find a way past the Shakers defence
At kick-off automatic promotion was still a possibility so unsurprisingly Mark Stimson kept faith with the same attacking line-up that recorded consecutive wins against rivals Dagenham and Bury.
With Priestfield boasting its biggest league gate of the season the game got underway in a cauldron like atmosphere as the visiting supporters battled the Rainham End for vocal supremacy.
Gillingham made the first opening of the match, Mark McCammon held up the ball for Andy Barcham to break into the box but the bustling forwards shot was gathered comfortably by Bury keeper Wayne Brown.
The visitor's first sight of goal was a rasping drive from Glynn Hurst in the 10th minute which Simon Royce did well to block low to his left hand side.
The Gills nearly found themselves in front ten minutes later, John Nutter's curling corner caused problems for the Shakers defence, McCammon rose to meet it but Brown was there to thwart him again on the line.
The home side were enjoying a good spell of pressure and Nutter tested the Bury defence again in the 34th minute with a whipped in free-kick from the right that curled agonisingly wide of the far post.
Gillingham were on target again in the 42nd minute as Stuart Lewis set up Josh Wright to shoot from the edge of the area but once again keeper Brown was equal to the challenge.
After half time Bury signalled their intentions directly from the re-start, full back David Buchanan raced down the right flank and fired in a cross which Andy Bishop headed wide of the far post.
The home side were back on the attack again before long urged on by a constant ground swell of noise from the Rainham End. It was John Nutter pulling the strings again in the 56th minute as his wicked cross flew across the face of goal, the slightest connection would have led to a goal but the ball somehow evaded three blue shirts.
On the hour Mark Stimson introduced Dennis Oli and the pacey substitute had a hand in creating the Gills next opening, his pressure forced Buchanan to clear direct to Curtis Weston, he in turn fed Simeon Jackson whose low strike from the right of goal was inches wide of the mark.
By now the Gills were in total control but still they could not make their pressure tell and in the 72nd minute they even hit the upright .Mark McCammon headed Nutter's cross out to Stuart Lewis and the Ginger Cafu drove a dipping volley towards the far corner only to see it canon back off the post.
In the 82nd minute Garry Richards deep throw on was flicked on by Oli towards the back post but Steve Haslam was on hand to hook it clear as Gillingham battled to break the deadlock. Minutes later Simeon Jackson broke into the box and muscled off Efe Sodje only to see keeper Brown save bravely at his feet.
But for all their earnest endeavour Gillingham couldn't break Bury down and both sides may well meet again in the play-offs.
Attendance: 8360
Gillingham: Simon Royce, Barry Fuller, Garry Richards, Simon King, John Nutter, Stuart Lewis, Josh Wright (Dennis Oli 60), Curtis Weston, Andy Barcham, Simeon Jackson, Mark McCammon
Subs not used: Alan Julian, Nicky Southall, Mark Bentley, Rene Steer
Bury: Wayne Brown, David Buchanan, Steve Haslam, Ben Futcher, Glynn Hurst (Phil Jevons 82), Andy Bishop, Brian Barry-Murphy, Michael Jones (Stephen Dawson 74), Efetobore Sodje, Elliott Bennett, John Welsh
Subs not used: Ryan Cresswell, Danny Racchi, Andy Morrell.
